RT Journal Article ID 73a4630f2853adeb A1 Tissot, Julien A1 Lissner, Michael A1 Azzouz, Kamel A1 Leducq, Denis T1 THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT OF PCMS FOR AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE APPLICATIONS: EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATIONS JF Computational Thermal Sciences: An International Journal JO CTS YR 2014 FD 2014-10-29 VO 6 IS 4 SP 329 OP 339 K1 heat storage K1 phase change material K1 equivalent thermal conductivity AB This study focuses on the evaluation of the equivalent thermal conductivity of a composite material comprising a phase change material (PCM) and periodic aluminum fins. This composite is a part of a heat accumulator. The evolution of the thermal conductivity with the fin volume fraction was studied through experimental measurements and numerical simulations. Two numerical models were developed on the basis of the resolution of 2D heat transfer equations with the finite volume method in order to determine the impact of the fin volume fraction on the thermal conductivity of the medium. In the first model, fins and PCM were modeled, while in the second model, the fins were not directly simulated but taken into account in terms of equivalent conductivity. A prototype was evaluated on a test bench in order to calibrate the equivalent conductivity and validate the modeling. A numerical parametric study was performed and showed that the equivalent conductivity can increase up to 150 times the PCM conductivity with a better distribution of the fins in the PCM. A correlation of the PCM equivalent thermal conductivity as a function of fin pitch is given for a range of aluminum volume fractions from 0 to 65%. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/648192910890cd0e,79df49661eac26ec,73a4630f2853adeb.html